Sun, Sand, and Style: American’s Best Kept Beach Secrets and Shirts to Wear to them

From Key West to the Great Lakes, the American coastline is dotted not only with iconic, see-and-be-seen beaches but also with hidden stretches of sand where the waves are gentler, the crowds thinner, and the style stakes somehow higher. These under-the-radar escapes are for those in the know—just like the best shirts.

Because let's be honest: your average beach tee just doesn't cut it anymore. If you’re heading somewhere special—even if no one else knows about it—your wardrobe should be on par with the destination. At Airthreads, we believe your shirt should travel like you do: tailored, breathable, and effortlessly cool.

So here’s your insider guide to the USA’s best secret beaches—paired with the exact custom shirt you’ll want in your weekender.

Dry Tortugas, Florida

Key West’s Quieter, Cooler Cousin

For: Snorkelers, history geeks, and solitude seekers

Shirt to Wear: Lightweight linen-cotton in washed pastel blue

Accessible only by boat or seaplane, Dry Tortugas is the kind of place that feels like a passport stamp without leaving the country. Match the calm waters and old-brick fortresses with a linen blend that catches the sea breeze and looks just as good rumpled as it does freshly pressed.

Guthrie Beach, Oregon

The Pacific’s Quiet Power Move

For: Cliffside trail blazers and picnic-in-flannel types

Shirt to Wear: Custom Oxford in coastal grey or mossy olive

Nestled below rugged Oregon cliffs, Guthrie isn’t built for sunbathers—it’s built for the man who takes his espresso black, his coastline moody, and his shirt with a tailored collar. Choose a washed Oxford that layers like a dream and looks like you planned to get windswept.

Carova Beach, North Carolina

Where the Wild Horses Still Roam

For: Off-road adventurers and barefoot romantics

Shirt to Wear: Stretch cotton blend in dune tan or sky white

There are no roads leading to Carova—just sand, surf, and wild horses walking by like they own the place. You’ll need something that moves with you, breathes with you, and handles a little sea spray. The Airthreads performance blend with subtle stretch and a just-right taper.

Sand Point Beach, Michigan

Pictured Rocks, But Make It Relaxed

For: Great Lakes purists and freshwater connoisseurs

Shirt to Wear: Poplin cotton in ice white or lake blue

The Midwest’s answer to the Amalfi Coast? Not quite. But with golden sand, turquoise shallows, and dramatic cliffs, Sand Point is quietly making its case. Elevate your beach fit with a crisp poplin shirt—timeless, breathable, and practically begging for a boat ride and a bottle of rosé.

Wherever you go this summer, skip the one-size-fits-none shirts. A well-fitted, made-for-you shirt is the difference between there’s a guy at the beach and who is that guy at the beach?

Your Summer Shirt Edit:

✔️ Breezy cotton, linen, and blended fabrics

✔️ Neutral and coastal tones to complement any setting

✔️ Tailored fits that photograph as well as they feel

✔️ The kind of shirt you roll, not fold